Currently, the fragrance industry has a global revenue of 53.44 billion U.S. dollars—and that number is expected to grow. Scent is a powerful sense that can be used to evoke emotions, memories, and moods. New Jersey hosts offices for major fragrance producers, including global industry leader Givaudan. The Professional Science Master's (PSM) program invited a panel of industry leaders from Givaudan for an interactive night of learning and networking with Rutgers students.
As a geographic leader in the flavors and fragrances industry, New Jersey was the prime location to host this event. This event was held in conjunction with The Fragrance Foundation, a non-profit supporting the fragrance industry with over 120 members.
PSM Executive Coach Abbe Rosenthal, MA, PCC, DYL Certified Coach, organized this interactive event with students and alumni, including undergraduate students at Rutgers across the college who learned about the fragrance industry and the Master of Business and Science degree.
About the Panel
Industry leaders from Givaudan with different areas of expertise joined us at the Rutgers Inn and Conference Center. They each shared insight into the fragrance industry, their own professional journey, and—fittingly—their favorite perfumes. Panelists included:
- Sarah Johnson, Global HR Business Partner
- Angelina Kulbrick, Science and Technology Director
- Daniel Dabrowski, Site Engineering Manager
- Vanessa Rocha, Global Head of Product Safety, Fragrance
- Ashley Oliviera, Marketing Manager
- Leonard Marchal, Key Account Executive
- Kyle Ferguson, Creative Fragrance Manager
Panelists came from various academic and professional backgrounds, ranging from engineering to veterinary science and voice performance.
Diving into the Fragrance Industry
There are fewer perfumers in the world than astronauts, said Kyle Ferguson as he led attendees in an interactive presentation on the fragrance industry. The Givaudan team passed around blotters scented with rose and jasmine, demonstrating the difference between synthetic and natural fragrances.
Ferguson shared about the olfactive pyramid and different factors that affect fragrance development, including:
- Regulation
- Stability
- Performance
- Base
- Price
- Product mix
- Likeability
Ferguson also provided insight into different positions at Givaudan, highlighting job functions and entry points for job searchers.
After Ferguson’s presentation, students had the chance to meet with Givaudan leaders and network.
As a parting gift, Givaudan provided bottles of perfume for attendees to grab on their way out.
Many thanks to the Givaudan for dedicating your time to our students!
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